Nozzle



Feb. 16, 1932. o. JANSSEN 1,845,918

NOZZLE Filed Sept. 29. 1930 X AW/ Patented Feb. 16, 1932 ,uurran s'ra'rss PATENT, OFFICE oecaa am, or er. tom, ransom rem a nmm ma leptenber alum. lerlal Io. clam.

This invention relates to nozzles, and with regard to more specific features, to nozzles for preferably flexible tubes used for dispenslng pastes, or the like.

Among the several objects of the invention may be noticed the provision of a nozzle, which, upon pressing a flexible tube in the usual manner for forcing out material, will automatically open for dispensing purposes; the provision of a device of the class described which automatically and completel closes and positively cuts off flow when sue pressure ceases; the provision of a nozzle of this class adapted to prevent excessive delivery of material and adapted to deliver a strip of material having an optimum cross section; and the rovision of a device of the class described w ich is simple in form and neat in appearance. Other objects will be in part obvious and in part pointed out hereinafter. I

The invention accordingly comprises the elements and combinations of elements, features of construction, and arrangements of parts which will be exem lified in the structure hereinafter describe and the scope of the application of which will be indicated in the following claim.

In the accompanying drawings, in which is illustrated one of various posslble embodiments of the invention,

Fig. 1 is a lan view of an exemplary tooth paste tube s owing the application of the invention, the figure showin a cap removed.

Fig. 2 is a cross section ta en on line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2 showing another form of the invention.

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3, showing another form.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged view taken at right angles to the cross section shown in Fig. 4. iaid Fig. 5 being taken on line 5-5 of said ilgl. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 5 but showing t e nozzle in delivery condition;

ig. 7 is a cross section taken on line 77 of Fig. 6 showing a cross section of delivered material ;and,

Fig. 8 is a perspective view showing the .9 not being a necessa operation of the invention but omitting a s owin of exuding material.

Sim r reference characters indicate cor.- respondin arts throughout the several views of t e rawings.

Referring now more particularly'to Fig. 1, there is illustrated at numeral 1 a ca ortion of a compressible or flexible tube 3. its tube 3 is provided with 'a closed bottom seam 5 and is composed of lead or the like so that it may be manually compressed after having been filled to exude material therefrom. This class of tube is already known and'further description herein is deemed to be unnecessary. 7

The top portion 1 of the tube 3 has an out let 7 over whichis threaded a cap 9, said cap adjunct to the tube but a desirable feature or a temporary covering of the nozzle during shipment or the like.

nteriorl the outlet 7 is provided with a rubber or 'ke bushin 11 havin an inside flange 13 and an outsi e flange 15 or holdin purposes. The bushing)? is of such size and consistency that it may introduced into the outlet 7 after the tube has been filled, its natural resiliency bringing it into the osition shown. Rubber, for example, fu fills the requirement forresiliency. It is to be understood however that other materials or substitutes for rubber may be used and that the flanges may be made of harder rubber or other material to insure proper positioning and retention.

One of the features of the present invention is the formation in a diaphragm 17, comprising the end of the bushing 11, of an outlet 19 such as shown in the figures. The outlet 19 comprises an I or H shape (Fig. 1) which is formed preferably by enterin a thin blade into the rubber or the like, sai blade having a straight ed e-or the I or H sha e. When the cut is ma e referably no rub r or material is removed. Thus when the blade is withdrawn, the resilient material closes the openin to form an air-tight seal.

It W1 be seen that the shape of the slit or cut 19 under consideration results in there being formed a pair of oppositely disposed symmetrical flaps, or gates 21 formed by the right angular cuts, 23, 25 and 27. The gates 21 are rendered flexible or hinged by the relieving action of the cuts 23 and 27. Thus they bend outwardly as shown in Figure 6 when interior pressure is engendered. At the same time these gates effect a definite cutting off action when the pressure is relieved, said action being due to the tendency of the resilient material to return to its original position. During the opening event the sideward slits 23, 27 bulge somewhat laterally (see Fig. 8).

n Fig. 3 is shown a form of the invention similar to that illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, except that there is no provision made for a cap 9. It will be understood that cap 9 is not necessary and. Fig. 3 illustrates this embodiment. The appearance of this form is desirable.

In Figs. 1 and 2 the cap 9 is only used for protecting the rubber tip during shipment and .to revent material from being exuded by acci ental pressure-of the tube 3. If the tube 3 is in an external cardboard or like container, there is less possibility of the accidental application of said external pressure and then the Fig. 3 form may be used.

In Fig. 4 is shown another form of the invention wherein numerals illustrating corresponding parts are the same as in the figures heretofore described. The primary difference between this modified form and those described above is that the rubber nozzle is not in the form of a bushing 11, but comprises an external tip 11a which may be aifixed by suitable adhesive and/ or threaded to the cap portion 1. The I or H shaped outlet is formed as heretofore described.

Fig. 5 shows in detail how the gate-portions 21 close in and touch one another at the slit or opening 25 to definitely close ofl' the interior of the tube 3 from the exterior thereof.

Fig. 6 shows how, when pressure is applied interiorly by pressing the tube 3, the gates or flaps 21 are opened or pushed outwardly to produce exudation of the paste or the like within. It also shows in connection with Fig. 7 how said paste assumes a cross section in exuding which is of an I- or H-like shape. The advantage of this cross section is that it provides a full body of exuding material. It

is not merely a single slit cut into the nozzle (see numeral 29, Fig. 7), the cross section of which exudes a ribbon of the material which is thin and tapering laterally to a knife edge. With a mere slit not enough of the material is exuded per unit of length. By relieving the slit 25, as by means of the lateral slits 23 and 27 there is affected a greater mass of exuded material per unit of length of exudation.

It will be understood that in Fig. 7 is shown at dotted lines 29, the manner in which the material would come out were the slit 25 not relieved by the slits 23 and 27.

A further advanta a of the said cross-section shown is that t e sides are raised or thickened as shown so as to revent excessive curling back onto the nozzle ltself. The symmetrical arran ment of the flaps 21 also contributes to t is advantage.

Another advantage of the invention, speaking generally, is that material may be exuded, say, onto a tooth brush or the like, and as the stroke is finished, the nozzle maybe ap lied to the brush to clean the nozzle, or, i the nozzle is not applied to the brush, it may readily be held under a stream of running water or dip ed into water or otherwise easily wiped o From the above and from the drawings, it will be seen that one form of the invention includes in the combination thereof an H- shaped slit in a flexible diaphragm which has no re-entrant angle or the like for breaking the surface near the slit. This combination of the H-shaped slit with the smooth unbroken surface surrounding it results in advantageous reciprocable or cooperative functions. One of the advantages is that the H- shaped opening forces paste or the like further away from the surface without curling back upon it, and that the small amount that may curl back, is positioned against a smooth and unbroken surface with no re-entrant portions which, if they were present, could not easily be cleaned.

Reciprocally, the smooth and unbroken surface permits better hinging of the flaps of the H- haped flap so that there is not so much local bending, as would be the case near an angular and/or re-entrant portion. Hence the flaps efiect a stronger closing action with a resulting more definite cut-oif eflect.

The device is sanitary, inexpensive, neat in appearance and effective in operation.

In connection with Figs. 1 to 3 the following points should be noted: The distance between the flanges 13 and 15 and the bushing 11 may be made slightly shorter than the corresponding faces of the outlet 7 with which they contact. Thus when the bushing is slipped into place, and the flanges 13 an 15 go into position, said bushing 11 is slightly stretched. This produces a cramping action on the upper flange 15. This cramping action induces a radial compression which insures that the walls of the slits 23, 25 and 27 will definitely press into one another to insure a definite closing action, even when the heavier mixtures of paste or the like are used. An advantage of the forms of the invention shown in Figs. 1-3 is that they present a neat appearance.

Fig. 8 shows the open position of the slits 21 without illustratin the exudation of material therefrom and i ustrates the positions of parts when interior pressure is engendered.

If the advantages of a thick cross section at X is desired (Fig. 7) without the portions Y (the thin material section 29 to be avoided), the sides of the flaps 21 may be joined with the edges of the slits 23, 27 by a thin membrane of rubber or the like, thus permitting the complete and effective movement of the fla 21 without paste exuding from the slits 23, Or, the walls of the d1aphragm 17 may be thickened at the slits 23, 27 to maintain contact with the sides of the flaps 21 as they move, or, the interiors of the fla s themselves ma be made thicker to accomp ish the same resu t inversely. The advanta s of a thick exudation are still had under t ese conditions, only the shape being changed.

In view of the above, it will be seen that the several objects of the invention are achieved and other advantageous results attained.

As many changes could be made in carrying out the above constructions without departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

I claim:

A nozzle for exuding outlets of flexible tubes and the like comprising an enclosing diaphragm, said diaph covering over the mouth of the tube and orming a sanitary, smooth and unbroken exterior surface over the area which the contents of the tube reach upon exudation, said diaphragm having a hm e-forming,

H- ape being adapte to reduce to a minimum the extent of the smooth and unbroken surface necessary, and said unbroken surface presenting optimum conditions for hinging operation of the slit.

In testimony whereof,'I have si ed name to this specification this 27 September, 1930.

OSCAR J ANSSEN.

H-sha d slit therein, said" day 0 

